356 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



something more interesting; but the particular circumstances have 

 to be considered. Aucubas do not object to conditions that would 

 be unfavourable to most shrubs. 



Grass Plots. It will have been noted that we suggested grass 

 between the path on one side of the garden and the border on 

 the other. We favour a moderate amount of turf in a suburban 

 garden for three reasons: (i) It looks cool and refreshing in hot 

 weather ; (2) it makes a good foil for the flowers in the border ; 

 (3) it affords space for free movements. We know of many 

 suburbanists who make a delightful lounge of their grass plots. 

 There are, of course, certain disadvantages. One is that the 

 space available for flowers is curtailed, and another that mowing 

 and rolling are necessitated. Some amateur gardeners are such 

 determined flower-lovers that they will not give up a yard of 

 precious space to grass. It is a matter of taste. 



Assuming that a grass plot is to be formed, we may say that 

 the simplest way is to get an estimate for laying turves from a 

 local florist. The total cost, including labour, ought not to exceed 

 ;i per square rod, less for a quantity ; but something will depend 

 upon the state of the ground when its preparation is entered upon. 

 Many amateurs will prefer, however, to do the whole of the garden- 

 ing work themselves. If they want turves they should get into 

 touch with a builder who is about to break up pasture-land for 

 building. If there is no such opening (and in many districts it is 

 impossible to get turf except from such a distance as makes the 

 freight costly), seed must be turned to. It is a question whether 

 it is not best in any case to use seeds. It would hardly be 

 thought that so simple a plant as grass would be susceptible to 

 the influences of impure air, but it certainly is, and we have 

 known of cases in which turf transferred from country to town 

 gardens has refused to grow, apparently feeling the change too 

 severely to be able to keep healthy. On the other hand, grass 

 from seed came, and remained, healthy in the same garden, showing 



